Effects of a lysophosphatidylcholine and a phosphatidylcholine on the morphology of taurocholic acid-based mixed micelles as determined by small-angle X-ray scattering

We previously showed that Caco-2 cell absorption of β-carotene from taurocholic acid (TA)-based mixed micelles differed depending on the composition of the micelles. In this study, the shapes and sizes of TA-based mixed micelles, that is, mixed micelles of TA, 1-oleoyl-rac-glycerol (MG), oleic acid (OLA), and either 1-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (MPPC; i.e., a lysophospholipid) or 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC; i.e., a phospholipid) (60:3:1:0.75–12) were determined by using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). We found that increasing the ratio of MPPC in mixed micelles of TA, MG, OLA, and MPPC was responsible for the previously observed enhanced β-carotene absorption by Caco-2 cells and changed the micelle shape from core–shell spherical to core–shell ellipsoidal. In contrast, increasing the ratio of POPC in mixed micelles of TA, MG, OLA, and POPC was responsible for the suppressed β-carotene absorption by the cells, changed the micelle shape from core–shell spherical to core–shell ellipsoidal to core–shell cylindrical, and caused a rapid increase in micelle volume. These results will be useful for understanding the mechanisms that mediate β-carotene absorption by cells and for developing technologies to improve the intestinal absorption of lipophilic components of drugs and nutrients.     

1,2,4-triazines. III. A convenient and general synthesis of 4H-[1,3,4]thiadiazolo[2,3-c][1,2,4]triazin-4-ones

4H-[1,3,4]Thiadiazolo[2,3-c][1,2,4]triazin-4-ones were prepared by cyclization of 3-thio-4-amino-1,2,4-tri-azine-3,5(2H,4H)-diones with a variety of acids in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid. The synthesis appears to be general.     

1-vinylbenzene 1,2- and 3,4-oxides

Synthesis of highly unstable vinyl-substituted benzene oxides has been established.     

Weighted Counting of Inversions on Alternating Sign Matrices

We generalize the author’s formula (2011) on weighted counting of inversions on permutations to one on alternating sign matrices. The proof is based on the sequential construction of alternating sign matrices from the unit matrix which essentially follows from the earlier work of Lascoux-Schützenberger (1996).

     

Stable rigged configurations for quantum affine algebras of nonexceptional types

For an affine algebra of nonexceptional type in the large rank we show the fermionic formula depends only on the attachment of the node 0 of the Dynkin diagram to the rest, and the fermionic formula of not type A can be expressed as a sum of that of type A with Littlewood–Richardson coefficients. Combining this result with Kirillov et al. (2002) [13] and Lecouvey et al. (2011) [18] we settle the X=M conjecture under the large rank hypothesis.     

Certain Families of Elliptic Functions Defined by <Emphasis Type="Italic">q</Emphasis>-Series

We introduce certain families of elliptic functions involving the Weierstrass ℘-function via q-series systematically and investigate their analytic and algebraic properties. Especially, we give examples of non-linear algebraic ordinary differential equations satisfied by some such elliptic functions. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: Primary–11M36, 33E05     

Stable marker-particle method for the Voronoi diagram in a flow field

The Voronoi diagram in a flow field is a tessellation of water surface into regions according to the nearest island in the sense of a “boat-sail distance”, which is a mathematical model of the shortest time for a boat to move from one point to another against the flow of water. The computation of the diagram is not easy, because the equi-distance curves have singularities. To overcome the difficulty, this paper derives a new system of equations that describes the motion of a particle along the shortest path starting at a given point on the boundary of an island, and thus gives a new variant of the marker-particle method. In the proposed method, each particle can be traced independently, and hence the computation can be done stably even though the equi-distance curves have singular points.     

Proton acceleration to 40 MeV using a high intensity, high contrast optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification/Ti:sapphire hybrid laser system

Using a high-contrast (10(10):1) and high-intensity (10(21) W/cm(2)) laser pulse with the duration of 40 fs from an optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification/Ti:sapphire laser, a 40 MeV proton bunch is obtained, which is a record for laser pulse with energy less than 10 J. The efficiency for generation of protons with kinetic energy above 15 MeV is 0.1%.     

Electron spin torque in atoms

The spin torque and zeta force, which govern spin dynamics, are studied by using monoatoms in their steady states. We find nonzero local spin torque in transition metal atoms, which is in balance with the counter torque, the zeta force. We show that d-orbital electrons have a crucial effect on these torques. Nonzero local chirality density in transition metal atoms is also found, though the electron mass has the effect to wash out nonzero chirality density. Distribution patterns of the chirality density are the same for Sc–Ni atoms, though the electron density distributions are different.     

Hierarchy of the Selberg Zeta Functions

We introduce a Selberg type zeta function of two variables which interpolates several higher Selberg zeta functions. The analytic continuation, the functional equation and the determinant expression of this function via the Laplacian on a Riemann surface are obtained.Mathematics Subject Classifications (2000). Primary 11M36, Secondary 33B15